Dear reader: The Bellingham Herald needs your help
Dear Bellingham Herald readers,
Coronavirus has brought significant challenges to our families and our community. How we respond to this pandemic is the biggest story of our lives.
The reporters, editors and visual journalists at The Bellingham Herald continue to work day and night, mostly from their homes around Whatcom County, to bring you news about the coronavirus pandemic.
In the next four weeks, we need to raise $27,000 to ensure The Bellingham Herald can continue to cover coronavirus and its economic fallout in Whatcom County as we have been.
In my 40-plus years in journalism, it’s never come to this. But we are asking for your help now.
I know the needs are great in this time of coronavirus. So many have lost their jobs. So many wonder how they will feed their families and keep their homes. Fear is made worse by social distancing that keeps us from offering a hand or a hug.
But knowing what’s happening is an antidote to fear. And that’s what local news offers.
We’ve taken you into St. Joseph hospital and kept on top of costs to local governments. We’re constantly adding to our list of local restaurants offering to-go service and delivery. We’re written about safe shopping and where those in need can go for food.
We understand the pain of those whose jobs are gone and are wondering how to pay their bills. We know small business owners are wondering what the future will bring. Business reporter Dave Gallagher has the best sources in the county and he’s on the job.
Coronavirus has decimated local advertising and we need a bridge to continue to serve the community through these difficult times.
The pandemic has brought layoffs, furloughs and salary reductions to newsrooms large and small. The Bellingham Business Journal has closed and the What’s Up entertainment guide is on hiatus. The Cascadia Weekly is looking at every-other-week publication. The Seattle Times just got a $9.9 million federal coronavirus-aid loan for temporary relief of the drop in advertising.
We don’t ask for your help lightly. Our relationship with you is based on trust and we don’t want to undermine that relationship.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can support our reporting by becoming one at bellinghamherald.com/subscribe. If you’re already a subscriber, please suggest to friends and neighbors that they join you and subscribe.
I was moved to tears in the first hours of our fundraising campaign as I saw the donations and the sentiments expressed by the donors at givebutter.com/bellinghamherald.
They know local news matters.
If you see value in what we’re doing every day, and if you can support us, please help us bridge this gap.
Your tax-deductible gift will ensure we continue to report on the coronavirus and all of its impacts across Whatcom County. We aim to raise $27,000 to keep our reporters reporting, our videographer recording and our editors at work delivering essential news and information to you.
With help from the Local Media Foundation, your gift goes directly to ensuring sustainability for The Herald and continued accountability reporting as we navigate this critical time. Your help will go directly to the newsroom, not the business bottom line.
I thank you for your support in this difficult time. Together we keep Whatcom County informed.
The status of What’s Up Magazine was corrected April 24, 2020.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
